Chicago Business Litigation Lawyer Blog
Summary: Derivative suits let owners enforce the company’s rights when insiders won’t. Done right, they’re powerful. Done wrong, they’re dismissed. Here’s a field guide for LLCs and closely held corporations.
Who can sue and when?
LLCs: Members may sue derivatively under 805 ILCS 180/40‑1 when managers/members harm the company. Relief can include restitution, constructive trusts, injunctions, and fees—plus orders to stop unilateral withdrawals or restore records access.
Corporations: Shareholders proceed derivatively; the entity is the real party in interest. Oppression claims (for corporations) are addressed separately under 805 ILCS 5/12.56.
Pleading essentials (don’t get 2‑615’ed):
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State your demand (or futility) with facts. If you didn’t ask the company to act, plead why demand would be futile with concrete details, not speculation. Judges read this closely on a motion to dismiss.
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Name the company as a nominal defendant. It’s indispensable. Forget this and the case can’t proceed.
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Mind “information and belief.” If you use it, plead the specific facts that support that belief and what you did to obtain records (or why you couldn’t). Courts reject fishing expeditions.
- Don’t double‑count damages. Separate derivative (company) harms from individual claims; if your “personal” count just repackages company damages, expect dismissal.
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Use the records statutes before you sue.
The Business Corporation Act lets shareholders inspect records for a proper purpose and authorizes penalties if inspection is wrongfully refused—up to 10% of the value of the shares—plus fee shifting in the court’s discretion. Doing the records step first both strengthens your pleading and narrows disputes.
Evidence that moves the needle.
Real‑time bank statements, electronic transfer logs, and payroll/tax records often decide early injunctions and survivability of claims. In one set of exhibits, monthly statements and ACH transfer lines were used to trace large withdrawals—exactly the kind of documentation courts expect to see when you allege misappropriation.
Remedies to ask for early:
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Accounting and full e‑records production;
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Injunctions halting cash transfers or changing signatories;
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Constructive trusts over disputed funds;
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Receiver or special fiscal agent in extreme cases.
Bottom line: Derivative practice is procedural‑law heavy. Nail demand/futility, name the entity, separate derivative from direct claims, and come with documents in hand. Your odds go way up.
Our team brings and defends derivative actions for LLCs and closely held corporations—fast injunctions, forensic tracing, and trial work. We also help owners leverage inspection rights to avoid court or to tighten pleadings. If insiders won’t protect the company, we will. Reach out for a strategy session. Call us for a free consultation at 630-333-0333 or contact us online.